Failing to Forecast

“When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56). 

Prophetic signs which God foretold

Regarding Jesus Christ our Lord,

Are in the Scriptures which we hold,

Which many, sadly, have ignored. 

We hear our Savior testify

And liken thus this willful crime

To those who can discern the sky,

Yet fail to discern this time. 

You see a cloud rise from the west,

And forecast that there will be rain, 

Yet signs which prophecies attest

Regarding Christ are far more plain! 

When you have seen the south wind blow,

You then discern there will be heat,  

Yet will you still refuse to know

The signs of Christ which are complete?

It is by choice that man yet fails

To see God’s forecast now in view,

Since prophecy today prevails

And clearly proves His Word is true.   

The time is short.  We see the signs. 

We know our Lord will come again. 

The truth this world now maligns

Shall surely be acknowledged then. 

O Lord, amid this apathy,

Though many hearts may not be stirred,

We hold the light of prophecy,

Which Scripture calls the “more sure Word.”

Lord, thank You for prophetic truth

With forecasts which are not mistaken,

By which we may equip our youth

So that their faith may not be shaken. 

Omnipotent Overcomer

“If I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.  When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils” (Luke 11:20-22). 

The finger of God manifested

God’s kingdom, with no room for doubt. 

The powers of hell were arrested

By Christ when He cast demons out.

The kingdom of God came to earth,

When Christ Jesus lived in our midst. 

Though clothed with humanity’s birth,

He gathered the wind in His fist.

The prison of Satan was strong

Where so many captives were found.

Their souls were imprisoned so long,

Yet freed after Satan was bound!

Our Savior alone had that power

To free us from infinite loss,

Who died for our souls in that hour

When He bore our sins on the cross!

How wonderful was the desire

Of Jesus who died in our place! 

He justly is our Justifier,

Abounding in infinite grace!

Behold the omnipotent fame

Attributed here to our Savior

When Christ on the cross overcame,

Extending to sinners His favor! 

Omnipotent Lord from above,

Our great Overcomer indeed,

We thank You for infinite love

Supplying our soul’s deepest need!

Guaranteed Goodness

“The goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1).  “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths… The LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken… He giveth grace unto the lowly.” (Proverbs 3:6,26,34).  “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven… One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:20,42). 

The goodness of God shall endure,

Since God neither changes nor lies. 

He leads us in paths that are sure,

For nothing takes Him by surprise.

As God is acknowledged each day,

He gives us direction we need.

We know He will show us the way;

His goodness is thus guaranteed.   

In Christ is our heart’s confidence;

We know that our foot won’t be taken. 

His goodness is now our defense;

We know He is never mistaken.

He tells all His own to rejoice: 

For heaven will surely record

The names of those making the choice

To trust Him as Savior and Lord. 

Our Savior examines each heart,

To give to the humble more grace. 

As Mary had chosen this part,

His goodness was in her embrace.

We thank You, O Lord, for Your Word  

Where guarantees daily abound

With goodness and mercy assured

In wonderful promises found!   

O Lord, we declare Your salvation

Extended to all of the lost,

Which guarantees no condemnation

Since You paid its horrible cost. 

Lord, help us to speak as we should,

So those facing wrath may now flee

And thereby discover how good

Your grace is which You guarantee. 

Awl in All

“If he [the servant] say… I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee, then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant forever” (Deuteronomy 15:16,17).  “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:24).

There was a time in Israel,

When servants, at their seventh year,

Could be released or choose to dwell

With one who then would pierce the ear. 

The reason for that choice was love,

To pierce the ear, then, with an awl. 

So likewise drawn to Christ above,

My heart submits now to His call.

How right it is to truly say

With full surrender of my heart:

O Lord, I will not go away! 

Where would I go if depart? 

I choose the awl, and not release,

For it is well when I surrender

To Christ, the Author of my peace,

My Lord, my Shepherd, and Defender. 

All other options are so grim,

For life apart from Christ is vain,

But life surrendered now to Him

Secures from Christ eternal gain.   

Lord, thank for this gracious choice

To give my all in all to You! 

The awl that pierces is Your voice,

So faithful, merciful, and true.

O Lord, You saved me from perdition

To hear Your voice and to seek Your face:

Now have Your way in full submission  

As I declare Your saving grace!  

Seated, Saved, Sane, and Sent

“They… found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind… Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him” (Luke 8:35-39). 

The man in whom the demons were,

Now seated, saved, and sane at last,

Was now creating quite a stir

Since “Legion” from him had been cast. 

How surely we may take our place  

With this man now as newborn creatures

As we are likewise saved by grace

And we reflect salvation’s features. 

We’re seated at our Savior’s feet,

Receiving from our Lord instruction. 

There never was a voice so sweet

As His who saved us from destruction. 

We’re clothed in garments of salvation;

His righteousness alone sufficed.

There is therefore no condemnation

To them who place their trust in Christ. 

We’re now enjoying sanity

With everyone who flees from wrath.

God calls to all humanity,

Yet many choose destruction’s path. 

The deepest joy that we have craved,

Apart from being with our Savior,

Is seeing others also saved

Who turn to Christ and find His favor. 

And so we also have been sent,

As Jesus likewise sent this man,

To others who may yet repent

When they have heard salvation’s plan. 

O Lord, we thank You for such grace

That lifts us from our sin and shame

And sends us forth before Your face

To preach the Gospel in Your name.